I realize now I can’t let my feelings and emotions cloud my judgment. This relationship is fake, a convenience. I am using Ace to get what I really want. To help Jade find her father and Roman. This shouldn’t feel real to me. But as I stand here watching him walk away, with this ache in my chest, only one thought crosses my mind.
This is more real than anything I’ve ever felt.
I head up to the quarter, ignoring the throbbing pain inside of me and take a long cold shower before locking myself inside my bedroom. I need to regroup, to remember why I’m here, why I’m with Ace. Why I hurt Drake and asked him to stay away. I need to find my mother in order to keep my family safe. I need to help Jade locate her father in order to find out where Roman is. And to do all of this, I need to be with Ace. So I need to figure out what I’m going to do to make sure I don’t lose him.
The loud ringing of my phone wakes me as I quickly reach over to silence it. Looking at the screen, UNKNOWN flashes in bold letters across it sending a cold shiver through me. After a moment it stops vibrating only to start flashing informing me that I have a new message. My fingers tremble as I pry it open, gasping at what it says.
UNKNOWN – Tonight, at midnight meet me behind the auditorium, at the bleachers at the far end of the lacrosse field. I have another task for you. Don’t be late.
I cringe at the words flickering across my screen when another message arrives, this one written in all caps.
UNKNOWN – DON’T MAKE ME CALL AGAIN.
And so it goes. Looks like I have another date with the devil.
I quickly dress in jeans and a hoodie and walk over to the spot where Agent Servite demanded I meet him. It’s cold outside, the moon only a small crescent that barely casts any light in the night sky. After the message from him I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I figured I’d give myself a head start. I make it out onto the field, my body trembling not because of the cold, but because I’m terrified of seeing Agent Servite again. Terrified of whatever heinous plan he’s cooked up this time.
“Glad to see you know what’s best for you, sweetheart,” he says as he approaches behind me. The air around me suddenly feels cold and bitter. I stay facing toward the field, not wanting to look him in the eye. The bleachers creak as he steps closer to me, his body now at my back as he reaches a hand upon my shoulder.
“You act like you’ve given me any other choice, Servite,” I spit back at him keeping my gaze forward.
“Careful, love,” he whispers against my neck. His fingers trail the exposed skin of my nape and my blood nearly freezes at his foreign touch.
“I’d do anything to keep my family safe,” I add, turning to him, now face to face. He towers over me, not as much as Ace, but still at least five inches. I tilt my head up meeting his petrifying gaze. “And those kids from the foster home you’ve threatened time and time again, are the only family I know.”
“You know, I thought you were just like her. Manipulative, narcissistic, incredulous. But I can see you’re nothing alike. Lilith would do anything in order to protect herself. She has not one selfless bone in her body. But you, my dear, are a rarity. A precious gem in the midst of all these worthless, tainted stones. A true diamond in the rough.”
“Cut it with the phony compliments, Servite. You called me here for a reason, now spit it out. I have much better things to do on a Friday night.”
“Ah yes, my nephew being one of those things,” he says with a chuckle. “Ace has been acting suspiciously. He’s up to something and I have it on good authority he’s going to be somewhere tonight where Lilith is rumored to make an appearance. He doesn’t know she’ll be there, and she doesn’t know I tracked her this time, so she won’t be expecting it.”
“An ambush,” I whisper.
“More or less. Two birds, one stone.”
“You want me to spy on Ace, or to corner my mother,” I sneer back at him.
“Ace can’t know you’ve followed him, and as for Lilith, I just need her to see you. That’ll be enough. I’ll worry about the rest.”
“And how am I going to manage that?”
“If you head down to the beach house right now, you’ll catch him before he leaves. You need to find a way to follow him without being seen. It is imperative he has no idea you’re following him or that I sent you.”
“And if I refuse? I am with Ace now. I don’t think it’s prudent I spy on him like a jealous girlfriend.”
“My sweet angel, I need not remind you of the consequences of your defiance. I am not a good man, but I am also not a violent one. Until pushed,” he says, clutching my chin harshly in his hand.
I bite down on my lip holding in the many nasty words I want to spit back at him but instead once again surrender to his demand.
“You have my word.”
THIRTY
SCARLETT
“You’re going to get caught,” I whisper to myself as I reach the back side of the beach house, where Ace parks his G-Wagon. I hide behind it looking into the house, spotting him in the kitchen. He’s putting something in a large bag as he turns off the lights vanishing completely from my sights.
“Shit! It’s now or never, Scarlett. You need to make your play.” I look up to the door handle of the trunk and realize this is my only chance. I need to sneak in before he comes out and sees me, or worse, drives off. I slowly and quietly reach up to pull the handle down praying to god, or whoever is listening, that it is unlocked. It clicks softly, opening, and I gently pull it up enough that I can squeeze my body through. I climb into the back pulling it down once I’m inside and shutting it with a small thump. I close my eyes hoping Ace didn’t hear, when I hear a loud thud coming from behind me. I look up over the backseat and see him locking the front door before he heads over to the car. He loudly opens the driver’s car door as I crouch down hiding in the trunk.
The engine starts and he vigorously pulls out of the driveway speeding to the upcoming road. A dial sound comes on over the speakers as the ringing of a phone follows.
“You better be on your way,” says Bass over the car’s speakers.
“Change of plans, there is somewhere I need to be,” answers Ace.
“Ace, he won’t like it.”
“Let me worry about that.”
“I hope it’s not to get some pussy from that gorgeous specimen you call a girlfriend. I mean pussy is sweet and all, and I can only imagine what hers tastes like, but this. The Horsemen, we trump all of that man.”
“I’m not going to her. This is far more important than some pussy,” he snaps, and I instantly cringe. Far more important than me, huh? I should be disgusted by the way they’re talking about me, but I only feel the pain of Ace’s harsh words. A warm pussy to keep his dick warm is all I am to him.
He hangs up the phone and keeps driving for what seems like hours but when the car pulls to a stop and I look down at my phone, I see it’s only been about half an hour. Ace opens his door and steps out, moving around to open the passenger seat and grab the bag he flung over.
I jump, as quietly as I can, out of the back of the G-Wagon closing the trunk gently before he sets the alarm. I quickly run to hide behind the truck parked beside us trying my best not to make a sound. Ace turns back slowly, and I almost think he’s caught me, but he simply shrugs his shoulders and heads toward the building where a man standing at the front whistles at him. The large concrete building, which resembles an abandoned warehouse of sorts, spreads out across the entirety of the property. I slowly creep up to the front of the parking lot, remaining hidden behind the parked cars and notice there are two men dressed in all black standing at the entrance. They quickly step aside as Ace approaches and open the door for him to enter the building. I am about to head over when I hear a group of people approaching. There are two men in the finest looking three-piece suits each with two girls dressed in mini-skirts, strapless tops, and no less than five-inch heels, draped on their arms. Their faces are covered in layers o
f makeup and their hair is practically flawless. I look down at my attire, ripped jeans, and a cropped hoodie. There is no way I’m getting in looking like this. I look around and see no one else approaching, so I decide it’s now or never.
“Okay here goes nothing,” I whisper to myself as I head to the front door. The two men eye me warningly as I approach them. “Good evening, boys,” I say in the flirtiest voice I can muster.
They both pull down their dark shades and glare at me.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I say, trying to walk around them.
“Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart?” asks the taller of the two men.
“I um,” I falter not knowing what to say.
“You working tonight?” asks the other. Bingo, that’s my in.
“Yes! Yes, I am,” I answer quickly. They look me over once more making me feel slightly uncomfortable.
“Never seen you around here before, are you new?”
“Yes, it’s my first day actually.”
“Well, first rule, you never go in through the guest entrance. All employees walk in through the side door,” he says, nodding to a hidden metal door down to the right end of the building.
“Got it.” I turn toward the door, but number two grabs my arm.
“Rule number two, the mistress hates it when you’re late,” he says with a wicked grin as his gaze roams over my body. I smile faintly, pulling my arm away.
I walk over to the metal employee door and pull the handle open, and to my surprise it opens easily. I would have expected it to be locked. Inside the building is dark and I can hear loud music blaring from the speakers above. Bright lights flicker in the distance and the walls are almost vibrating. The smell of smoke and liquor exudes through the walls. Holy shit, I think this is some type of night club. I walk down a long corridor hoping to find some stairs to take me to the top, I think I’ve entered through the basement of the building. Suddenly a door to my left opens and a tall woman dressed in a long red dress appears, her hair is a deep burgundy red combed up into a high ponytail. Her makeup is flawless and dark blue eyes glare intensely at me.
“What the hell are you doing out here?” she shouts, both hands on her waist. “And why the fuck are you not dressed? Your shift starts in less than 10 minutes so get in here and get ready.”
I nod and follow her into the room she’s walked out of. Inside there are various changing stations with mirrored vanities all around. The room is filled with about fifteen girls all dressed in the skimpiest outfits I’ve ever seen, their hair and makeup perfectly in place. What kind of place is this?
“Cruz,” she shouts. “I found one of your girls out here wandering the halls. She’s not dressed and not ready. Get your ass over here and fix her before I fire her.”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Lacey,” says a man appearing from behind a curtain.
“You know the mistress hates tardiness and unprofessionalism,” she says, turning to me and glaring. She eyes me, looking me up and down as she turns back to the man in front of her, whom I assume is Cruz, dressed in a sequined dark blue suit. “And this chick doesn’t even look like she came prepared. I swear, where are you finding these girls? They weren’t like this in my days,” says Lacey.
“That’s because those girls are all married to Fortune 500 billionaires and have a litter of children they send off to boarding schools so they can travel the world and spend their days and nights at the country club having love affairs with the pool boys.”
She glares at him and walks around to where a few of the other girls stand.
“Don’t mind her, she’s just bitter that you’re a brand new, shiny toy and she’s a chewed up, old squeaky toy that’s had one too many squeezes if you know what I mean,” he says with a wink. “What’s your name, darling?”
“I’m,” I’m about to give him my real name but decide against it. I don’t want Ace to find out I followed him, and frankly this place gives me all sorts of skeevy vibes. “I’m Serena,” I say, opting to use my middle name instead.
“Well, Serena, I assume it’s your first day and you didn’t bring any supplies?” he asks, and I shake my head answering no. “Why don’t I remember hiring you? A beautiful face like yours I’d never forget.”
“Well, actually,” I am about to confess I don’t really work here when Lacey, the woman from earlier, shouts that we have five minutes till showtime.
“Never mind, we need to get you dressed and ready to go out there. Here, let me choose something for you and I’ll help you put some makeup on.”
He walks me over to a large clothing rack filled with various colors of dresses and other smaller lingerie looking outfits. The fabrics are luxurious with embroidery and beadings in all different designs.
“Here, put this on,” he says, handing me a dark blue lace bodysuit with the sides cut out and just small patches covering the goods. The neckline cuts down low and the back is non-existent.
“I can’t wear this,” I say nervously.
“Of course you can, it will accentuate those beautiful blue eyes of yours and that killer body, now hurry, we don’t have much time.”
I see no other way of finding out why Ace is here, so I quickly change into the outfit and walk back out toward the vanity Cruz is standing by.
“Oh wow, you look ravishing. They’re gonna love you, I’m so getting that holiday bonus.” I eye him curiously not understanding what he means, but he pulls me and sits me in a chair in front of the mirror. “I’m just gonna add a bit of makeup, you’re already drop dead gorgeous and unlike the majority of the girls here, you don’t need all this paint to make you beautiful. I think we can play off your innocence. They’ll love it.”
“Wait, what?” I say, but he ignores me. He quickly applies the makeup, and twirls some soft curls in my hair, a few loose tendrils frame my face.
“One-minute, girls,” shouts Lacey as she exits through a curtain that hides a staircase, I assume leads to the entrance of the club.
“Okay, last step, your shoes.” He hands me a pair of knee-length, high heeled boots in a matte black color. They are at least five inches high and look almost impossible to walk in. Luckily, I’ve had some practice since coming here, attending the Saints and Sinners party as well as the Hallows Eve Masquerade. I quickly slip them on as Cruz pulls me toward the rest of the girls.
“Wait, Cruz, what am I supposed to do?” I shout as I’m guided up the stairs.
“Give them hell, darling, and a little shimmy,” he says before I can’t see him anymore.
The girls and I walk in a straight line up the stairs and toward another metal door I assume leads into the club. As we enter through the metal door, we reach another room that looks like a stage hiding behind a dark curtain. The music is rumbling through the room and I can see light flashing above. The club must be just behind the curtains. We are separated into groups of three and sent to separate parts of the stage. I’m paired with two girls both with dark brown hair, one in a pink halter two-piece ensemble, the other in a green strapless bodysuit. Looking at them I notice they’re identical twins.
“Where are we going?” I ask the one in the green.
“To the cages,” she replies.
“To what?” I ask shocked.
“You must be new. I haven’t seen you here before.” Says the one in pink. “I’m Lex, this is my twin sister Remi,” she says, motioning to the girl in green.
“Serena,” I answer. “What do you mean cages?” I ask, but suddenly I hear a loud clinking sound as two metal gates close in around us. They weren’t kidding, we’re caged in. The stage starts to move as the curtains come down, revealing a large room filled with at least 100 people all dancing and drinking, staring up at us. What the fuck did I get myself into?
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Gallows,” shouts a voice blaring through the speakers above.
I look to the bottom stage and recognize Cruz standing beside Lacey a
nd another woman dressed in black, her face hidden behind a black lace veil embroidered with red flowers.
My heart starts racing as the man at the center of the stage begins to speak. I look around and see a total of six cages like the one I’m in all around the top floor of the club. Each cage has at least three girls in it.
“I’d like to present to you tonight’s entertainment. These are the ladies of The Gallows.” Suddenly, a spotlight flashes on all the cages nearly blinding me on site.
“Here at The Gallows we believe in giving in to all our deepest, darkest desires. Temptation isn’t a sin but a way of life. This is a place where we can be our true unfiltered selves hiding away from the judgment and intolerance of the outside world. So please enjoy tonight’s entertainment and remember if anyone would like to place any orders, the bidding starts at ten thousand dollars.”
The microphone and lights at the center stage turn off, leaving only a bright spotlight on each of the six cages. I turn to Lex and Remi who begin dancing and swaying sensually to the music.
“What is he talking about bidding? What are they bidding on?” I ask, nearly hyperventilating.
“Well, on us, of course, now start dancing or we’re not gonna get picked. We need the money tonight, rent’s due and we can’t afford to miss it.” Lexi starts grinding against her sister moving to the beat of music. Us. This isn’t just any club, this is a brothel, a whore house. And it looks like tonight, I’m for sale.
It takes me a few moments to snap out of the fear induced paralysis I’ve succumbed to. Panic courses through my veins as I stand here in a cage being auctioned off to who knows who, for who knows what. I need to find Cruz. I can tell him this was a mistake, that I don’t really work here. Or that I’m underage, I’m sure they don’t want the legal drama that will bring. Although, looking over at Lex and Remi and the other girls around here, they look to be my age, or younger even with all the layers of makeup. I look around the room for Ace, but I can’t seem to find him among the crowd.
The Four Horsemen : A Servite Academy For Troubled Teens Novel Page 28
